Kumasi: As Africa marks the 2025 African Union Anti-Corruption Day, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has renewed its call for bold and inclusive efforts to combat corruption in Ghana, with a special emphasis on empowering the youth. Mrs. Beauty Emefa Nartey, the Executive Secretary of GACC, in a speech read on her behalf during a sensitisation programme to commemorate the day at State Experimental Basic School in Kumasi, lamented the deep and enduring impact of corruption on Ghana's development.
According to Ghana News Agency, as part of the activities to mark the day, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Local Accountability Network (KMA LANet), visited State Experimental School and St. Louis Demonstration School to engage the pupils on effects of corruption. The initiative aimed to instill anti-corruption values in young minds, with the long-term goal of nurturing a future generation of principled and incorruptible citizens.
Mrs. Nartey cited findings from the 2023 Auditor-General's Report, which revealed that the country lost over GHS11 billion to financial irregularities, making a strong case that those funds could have significantly improved education, healthcare, and employment. She said corruption continued to undermine development, deepen inequality, and erode public trust in institutions, adding that, 'It is our young people who often bear the harshest consequences.'
According to her, the youth are not just victims of corruption but also powerful agents of change. The GACC, she noted, recognised that empowering the youth to stand against corruption was a critical step toward building a fairer, more inclusive Ghana where development benefits all.
In 2024, the GACC, through its Local Accountability Networks (LANets), empowered over 27,000 young people, including first-time voters across 33 districts in 14 regions, with the knowledge and tools to resist election-related corruption. For 2025, the coalition is expanding its youth-focused anti-corruption efforts to 40 districts across all 16 regions, in line with the African Union's theme: 'Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.'
The nationwide initiative, with funding support from the Hewlett Foundation, aims to raise awareness, promote civic engagement, and encourage whistleblowing. The campaign will use a combination of in-person and digital platforms, including schools, religious and social groups, community events, and media, to inspire young Ghanaians to demand accountability from leaders and to take a stand for transparency.
